Base properties in media playback system

Abstract

An example implementation may involve a control device identifying a playback device base in a media playback system. The playback device base includes an interface to communicate with a playback device placed on the playback device base. The example implementation may further involve a control device receiving an input comprising a zone property to assign to the playback device base, and causing the identified playback device base to be assigned the zone property, wherein the zone property is associated with a particular zone of a media playback system.

I claim: 
     
       1. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a control device to perform functions comprising:
 identifying a playback device base in a media playback system, wherein the playback device base comprises an interface to communicate with a playback device placed on the playback device base; 
 receiving an input comprising a zone property to assign to the playback device base; and 
 causing the identified playback device base to be assigned the zone property, wherein the zone property is associated with a particular zone of a media playback system. 
 
     
     
       2. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 causing an interface of the control device to display an indication that a playback device placed on the playback device base is a member of the particular zone of the media playback system. 
 
     
     
       3. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein causing the identified playback device base to be assigned the zone property comprises:
 transmitting, to a playback device of the media playback system, a request to assign the zone property to the playback device base. 
 
     
     
       4. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein causing the identified playback device base to be assigned the zone property comprises:
 updating state information of the media playback system to indicate that the playback device base is a member of the particular zone of the media playback system. 
 
     
     
       5. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein causing the identified playback device base to be assigned the zone property comprises:
 transmitting, to a server of the media playback system, a request to assign the zone property to the playback device base. 
 
     
     
       6. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the particular zone is a first zone, and wherein the functions further comprise:
 displaying a first indication that a particular playback device is a member of a second zone; 
 receiving a second indication that the particular playback device has been placed on the playback device base; and 
 in response to receiving the second indication, displaying a third indication that the particular playback device has joined the first zone. 
 
     
     
       7. The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 receiving a fourth indication that the particular playback device has been removed from the playback device base; and 
 in response to receiving the fourth indication, displaying a fifth indication that the particular playback device has re-joined the second zone. 
 
     
     
       8. A control device, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the control device to perform functions comprising:
 identifying a playback device base in a media playback system, wherein the playback device base comprises an interface to communicate with a playback device placed on the playback device base; 
 receiving an input comprising a zone property to assign to the playback device base; and 
 causing the identified playback device base to be assigned the zone property, wherein the zone property is associated with a particular zone of a media playback system. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The control device of  claim 8 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 causing an interface of the control device to display an indication that a playback device placed on the playback device base is a member of the particular zone of the media playback system. 
 
     
     
       10. The control device of  claim 8 , wherein causing the identified playback device base to be assigned the zone property comprises:
 transmitting, to a playback device of the media playback system, a request to assign the zone property to the playback device base. 
 
     
     
       11. The control device of  claim 8 , wherein causing the identified playback device base to be assigned the zone property comprises:
 updating state information of the media playback system to indicate that the playback device base is a member of the particular zone of the media playback system. 
 
     
     
       12. The control device of  claim 8 , wherein causing the identified playback device base to be assigned the zone property comprises:
 transmitting, to a server of the media playback system, a request to assign the zone property to the playback device base. 
 
     
     
       13. The control device of  claim 8 , wherein the particular zone is a first zone, and wherein the functions further comprise:
 displaying a first indication that a particular playback device is a member of a second zone; 
 receiving a second indication that the particular playback device has been placed on the playback device base; and 
 in response to receiving the second indication, displaying a third indication that the particular playback device has joined the first zone. 
 
     
     
       14. The control device of  claim 13 , wherein the functions further comprise:
 receiving a fourth indication that the particular playback device has been removed from the playback device base; and 
 in response to receiving the fourth indication, displaying a fifth indication that the particular playback device has re-joined the second zone. 
 
     
     
       15. A method, comprising:
 identifying, via a control device, a playback device base in a media playback system, wherein the playback device base comprises an interface to communicate with a playback device placed on the playback device base; 
 receiving, via the control device, an input comprising a zone property to assign to the playback device base; and 
 causing, via the control device, the identified playback device base to be assigned the zone property, wherein the zone property is associated with a particular zone of a media playback system. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 causing an interface of the control device to display an indication that a playback device placed on the playback device base is a member of the particular zone of the media playback system. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein causing the identified playback device base to be assigned the zone property comprises:
 transmitting, to a playback device of the media playback system, a request to assign the zone property to the playback device base. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein causing the identified playback device base to be assigned the zone property comprises:
 updating state information of the media playback system to indicate that the playback device base is a member of the particular zone of the media playback system. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein causing the identified playback device base to be assigned the zone property comprises:
 transmitting, to a server of the media playback system, a request to assign the zone property to the playback device base. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the particular zone is a first zone, and wherein the method further comprises:
 displaying a first indication that a particular playback device is a member of a second zone; 
 receiving a second indication that the particular playback device has been placed on the playback device base; and 
 in response to receiving the second indication, displaying a third indication that the particular playback device has joined the first zone.